Calling all categories

Voting in last year’s Best of WNC poll might have seemed like an endurance test, with its 240-plus categories — but, hey, that’s the sacrifice we make for living in such a diverse, exciting, top-shelf region. With the exception of velvet and perfume, you can never have too much of a good thing.

So, we’re adding more categories to this year’s Best of WNC ballot. How else can we do justice to WNC’s passions, eccentricities and expertise? Sure, 240 categories was a big ballot, but consider all the categories we were missing.

That’s what we thought. So, what did we miss last year?

We’re open to any and all suggestions as we consider what to include in the 2013 ballot. Although we may not use everything, our minds are open.

First, consider your own expertise and gifts: How can we best represent them in our poll? You can make specific suggestions for individual categories, such as “Best Downtown Street,” or suggest a broader topic that includes multiple categories, such as “best local beers by type: Best IPA, Best Porter, Best Hooch etc.”

While this year’s ballot is likely to get longer, we’re developing a new, streamlined balloting system. So don’t worry about there being too many categories. You’ll be able to vote for as many or as few as your tastes dictate, and what you’re looking for will be easy to find.

Please leave your suggestions in the comments field below. If someone has already suggested your idea, give it a thumbs up or reply in support and we’ll call it a gang opinion.

We also have an open poll on our Facebook page where you can add your suggestions to the list.

I will go with your first two ideas but the third is really is by the numbers and not something to be voted on by the public. A big Mtn Xpress issue dedicated to non profits would be good to show that though!

So you know how Luella’s bbq always has a witty or fun comment on their outside reader board, the one with the movable letters? I realized that there is actually quite a few of these signs around town
(Off the top of my head, Luellas, homegrown, the import auto shop on merrimon). I think this would make a great category. Best reader board sign. They are a really easy way to communicate with the community and would encourage more fun signs around town (which would make my commute to work a little more entertaining).

Love that you have so many great best of categories for the creative world including Best Graphic Designer! It would be great if you could expand that category to include Best Marketing Company or Best Creative Agency since it often takes a team to develop awesome creative!!!

You should do Best Comedy Show or Best Comedy Event. The comedy scene here is booming. There are several great full-production original comedy shows that happen in AVL over a year, but they are not even considered. That goes for dramatic stage productions also. Celebrate the talent in AVL who are writing their own original material for comedy and also drama.

Mt. X does a great job of trying to recognize all the different aspects of WNC. However, you could lose some of those best music categories, and spread attention to stage productions. The music categories seem overboard. Best local gypsy absurd punk rock band? Seriously? That’s not even a real genre of music. Best Noise Drone? It’s fantastic to recognize those unique musical genres, but please consider spreading the love to the theatrical community that has a much bigger audience than at least half of the music categories combined.
I truly do appreciate that you’re trying to expand a little to recognize more in WNC. It’s not easy to please everyone in a community with so many fantastic events and interests. Thanks, and keep up the great work.

Best Asheville City/Buncombe County School nutrition lunch program. One that uses the most fresh food and local produce. It would be great to mention the school that composts as much food as possible and has it’s own garden for food use.